Stopper for liquid-containing vessels



(No Model.) l 4 E. BURNETT.

STOPPBB. FOR LIQUID CONTAINING VESSELS.

N. PETERS. Phm-uhugmvhar. wnhingwn. D. C4

UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE,

EDWARD BUENETT, E SoUTHBoEoUGH, ASSIGNOE To HIMSELE, AND ALEX.

' P. BEowNE, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STOPPER FOR LIQUID-CONTAINING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patet No. 281,611, dated July 17,1853. Application led February 3, 1883. (No model) `adapted to thatclass of vessels commonly used in the transportation and distribution ofmilk; and it has for its obj ect to provide a means whereby the outiiowof the liquid may be permitted, while the surreptitious introduction ofliquid, as an adulterant or otherwise, is prevented. This I accomplishsubstantially by providing the vessel at its place of discharge with alocked stopper or kindred closure of Such a character that a passagewill automatically open and allow the outflow of the liquid, but will beautomatically closed against the introduction of liquid from without,the whole being so constructed and located as to prevent outsideinterference with the due action of the working parts. Such aconstruction of the vessel and stopper will commonly require that aspecial air tube or vent be provided; Its outer opening should beprotected either by putting it within the stopper in the manner to behereinafter described or otherwise preventing the introduction of anadulterant through it to the interior of the can.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment'of my invention in what Ibelieve to be the best form for the purposes for which it is intended,and which I will proceed to de' scribe.

Figure l shows a stopper intended primarily for use withlarge cans orvessels. It is made of metal, of sufficient thickness and durability towithstand ordinary usage in transportation and handling, and consists ofa dome-Shaped cap or cover, A, having an internally-screwthreadedflange, c, by which it is screwed to the top of the can B. Within thiscap a plate of metal is iitted, as shown at C. This plate,

as well as/the cap, is centrally bored for the 5o insertion of theeduct-pipe D, which is soldered or brazed onto the plate C or madeintegral with it. The educt-pipe, the construction of which isillustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, has avalve,

F, of the pattern known as the mushroo1n, (shown at Fig. 4,) the seatand valve-chamber of which are formed by the enlargement of the pipe D,and this pipe, for convenience of insertion of and access to the valveF,Fig. 3, is formed in two parts united by a screw-joint. Within thispipe, also, is a perforated plate, 6o d, Fig. 4, which serves the doublepurpose of a Stop for the outward movement of the valve and also, inconnection with the extension of the pipe D, as a screen or shield toprevent tampering or interference with the valve from without. The domeA, being in practice screwed down tightly upon the plate C, holds it andthe interposed packing h rmly in place, and also prevents the upperportion of the tube D from being unscrewed when the can is cova 7o ered.The dome A, after being Screwed down in place, as described, is securedby a lock or seal. The plate C also carries an air-vent con sisting of ametallic tube, g. This air-tube eX- tends into the interior of the-domeand connects with the outer air through minute slits (not shown) in itsrim, where the eduction-tube passes through. Y

The operation of the structure is as follows: The can having been iirstlled with milk, the Se cover A is screwed on and locked or sealed in theordinary manner. When it is desired to pour out from the can, it isinverted, the valve opens, and the milk iiows out through the tube. Uponturning the can back to its original position the valve closes by itsown weight and remains so, thus cutting off access to the interior ofthe can and preventing the introducn tion of water or other adulterant.The valve is so shielded by the dome A, tube D, and screw 9o d that itcannot be opened from without.

Any known kind of valve which will open automatically to permit theoutiiow of the liquid contained in the can and close automatically toprevent the introduction of fluid into the can may be substituted forthe valve auto matically acting by gravity which I have herespecilically described.

The details of construction and arrangement also may. be varied orchanged in many ways roo without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claiml. A stopper for closing the mouth of a liquidcontaining vessel,adapted to be secured in place in the mouth thereof by alock or seal,said stopper having a perforated external shield, a perforated internalplate, and a tube opening at one extremity to the can and forming apassage-way for the liquid through the perforated plate and shield, saidtube containing a valve which automatically permits the outiiow andprevents the inflow of liquid through the locked stopper', and alsobeing provided with means for preventing external interference With thenormal action of the valve, all substantially as described.

2. A stopper for closing the mouth of a liquid-eontaining vessel adaptedto be secured in its place by a lock or seal having a discharge passageor outlet, provided with a valve which automatically permits the outlowbut prevents 281,6lli

the infiow of liquid through the locked stopper, a separate passage orinlet to the vessel for the air-supply7 and means, substantially asdescribed, for preventing access to the end of the inlet and externalinterference with the normal action of the valve, substantially asherein set forth.

3. A stopper for the mouth of a liquid-containing vessel, adapted to besecured in its place by a lock or seal, said stopper having an externalperforated shield, an internal perforated plate, a tube or passage-Wayfrom the interior of the vessel passing through the shield and plate,provided with an automatically-acting valve, an air-tube, and means,substantially as described, for preventing access to theend of theair-tube and external interference with the normal action of the valve,all substantially as herein set forth.

lVitnesses: EDVARD BURNETT.

ALEX. l?. BROWNE, J. HENRY TAYLOR.

